Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Gabor Csupo

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Stockwell (screenplay) and
David Paterson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Discover a place that will never leave you, and a friendship that will change you forever.

Plot:

A preteen's life is changed after befriending the new girl at school.

Plot Keywords:

Kingdom | Tragedy | Bully | Race | Friendship

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Josh Hutcherson	...	Jess Aarons
AnnaSophia Robb	...	Leslie Burke
Zooey Deschanel	...	Ms. Edmunds
Robert Patrick	...	Jack Aarons
Bailee Madison	...	May Belle Aarons
Kate Butler	...	Mary Aarons
Devon Wood	...	Brenda Aarons
Emma Fenton	...	Ellie Aarons
Grace Brannigan	...	Joyce Aarons
Latham Gaines	...	Bill Burke
Judy McIntosh	...	Judy Burke
Patricia Aldersley	...	Grandma Burke
Lauren Clinton	...	Janice Avery
Isabelle Rose Kircher	...	Carla
Cameron Wakefield	...	Scott Hoager

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements including bullying, some peril and mild language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Ireland:PG | South Korea:All | Germany:o.Al. | Malaysia:U | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:I | UK:PG | New Zealand:PG | Netherlands:9 | Portugal:M/6 | Finland:K-7 | Australia:PG | Sweden:7 | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Venezuela:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Auckland War Memorial Museum, Domain Drive, The Domain, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Hal Lieberman Company

Trivia:

When the dog bites the squogre, the squogre's pained howl is the same as Steele's from Balto (1995) when he gets his butt burned on the grate of the boiler after Jenna pretends to flirt with him.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Leslie gives Jess his birthday present on the school bus, her hair is covering her left ear in shots from one angle (at 00:35:42) and is behind her left ear from other angles (at 00:35:36).

Quotes:

Leslie Burke: What if you don't have a TV?
[the class laughs]
Leslie Burke: My dad says the TV kills brain cells.
Scott Hoager: Your dad doesn't know anything. We watch TV like every day!
Leslie Burke: I rest my case.
Mrs. Myers: Well then, Leslie, you don't have to write this essay. You can pick something else to write about.
Scott Hoager: Yeah, like how to live in a cave!

Movie Connections:

References Dumb & Dumber (1994)

Soundtrack:

Someday

Close your eyes, but keep your mind wide open . . .

Bridge To Terabithia

I have not read the book and did not see this movie with many expectations.

To begin with, this is a story of Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson). Jesse is the fastest runner in his class and very proud of being so. Frequently picked on by the local bullies, troubled with the financial situation back home and oft ignored by all but one of his 5 sisters, he immerses himself within his drawings as an escape... Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb)is the new-kid in his class. She has a panache for writing which coupled by her ability to outrun all the guys in her class (including Jesse) ensures that she doesn't have the best luck making new friends. However, with their affinity to be picked on, Jesse and Leslie soon find themselves extremely fond of each other and off looking for a place of their own... This is Terabithia...

And this is where I'll end my summary for I do not wish to go into the spoilers for the movie.

All the kids in the movie really shine in their respective roles. As many reviewers have said before me, Josh and AnnaSophia are a wonderful pair! I would also like to mention the young Bailee Madison (playing Josh's younger sister) for her portrayal of May Belle.

However, what truly lifts this movie from "good" to "great" is the simplicity of the whole story. This is a children's movie through and through and but do not expect a typical Disney feel-good comedy. Do not also expect huge CG sequences like say, The Chronicles of Narnia.

This movie is full of heart and everything about it is shown from the eyes of a child. Life, is not a pretty thing and more than the magical kingdom of Terabithia, this is a tale of a young kids' coming to terms with matters of being bullied, being loved, having a true friend and even trying to understand death.

By the end of it all, many people around me were moved to tears and I myself was trying desperately to hold back. The movie, its message and its delivery are all beautiful.

On a critical note, the only thing about the movie that I didn't particularly love was the music. The music in general wasn't very well suited and certain songs were just not needed, but I suppose thats what the MTv culture demands.

In conclusion, I highly recommend it. Go and watch this movie and if you have them, take your children... They'll love it!

9/10